Front sight for firearms.



umzsmar 33-252 OR 190 /79 0? SR W. L. MARBLE.

FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1912.

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WEBSTER L. MARBLE, OF GLADSTONE, MICHIGAN.

FRONT SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

Application filed April 30, 1912. Serial No. 694,150.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WEBSTER L. MARBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gladstone, in the county of Delta and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Front Sights for Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that type of front sight having a solidly fixed bead sight and a folding stem or leaf carrying a larger bead which may be folded down when the finer sight is to be used or raised to obscure the finer sight when a larger bead is desired. With such sights the finer bead may be used for target shooting or close work on game shooting where there is ample light and the larger bead may be turned up for use when there is insufficient light to use the finer head.

My invention has for its objects the provision, in a sight of the character set forth, of a folding sight constructed and mounted in a new manner, together with a sight base of new construction and a spring of novel construction, disposition, and connection to the sight and which cooperates with the folding sight bead.

The invention is set forth fully hereinafter and the novel features are recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of the sight on a fire arm, the folding bead being down; Fig. 2, a plan view of the sight with the folding bead lowered; Fig. 3, a partially vertical elevation and section thereof; Fig. 4, a detail perspective with the folding sight and spring removed; Fig. 5, a detail perspective of the folding sight; Fig. 6, a detail perspective of the spring; Fig. 7 a detail partly in section of a modification; Fig. 8, an end view showing a modified spring and holding means therefor; and Fig. 9, a detail of the spring of Fig. 8.

The sight has base 1, dove-tail attaching block 2, and stationary rib sight 3 having the relatively small bead 4:. The base 1 is provided with a transverse notch or groove 5 substantially at the rear end of the rib 3 which may be disposed in ofi-set relation to the dove-tail block 2 or, if it is preferred to make the sight lower, may extend down into the dove-tail block 2, as shown in Fig. 7 at 5. In either instance the base is provided with a recess 6 intersecting the groove 5 and a notch 7 forming a continuation thereof in the rear edge of the base 1, said notch being arc-shaped, preferably semicircular in form. The channel 6 accommodates the stem of the folding sight and the notch 7 the bead thereof when the folding sigl'lt is down.

The folding sight 8 has integral trunnions 9 disposed in the groove 5, said trunnions being provided with flattened faces 10, 11, the latter abutting the front margin of the groove 5 when the folding sight is raised and the former being then undermost.

The spring 12 which is provided with a bifurcation 13 forming the arms 14:, straddles the rib 3 and has its free ends bearing upon the trunnions 9. The part 15 that connects the arms 1a is adapted to enter a slot 16 in the front end of the rib 3. A wedging fit may be employed, or, a notch 17 may be provided in the part 15 and the metal of the base 1 pressed up into engagement with the walls of the notch, as shown at 18, Fig. 8.

The arms 14 are slightly bowed upwardly so that they will exert at their extremities a suitable pressure on the trunnions 9. \Vhen the folding sight is lowered, the ends of the arms M bear upon the flat surfaces 11 of the trunnions and the sight is thus held substantially flush with the top of the base 1. Then the folding sight is moved upwardly, the spring bears upon the upper fiat faces of the trunnions and holds the sight in raised position. The bead 19 which is carried by the folding sight 8 is larger than the bead 4 and it may be differently colored if desired.

The folding sight 8 is firmly held out of the way when not wanted and when it is raised it is securely held against displacement. The pressure of the spring is suificient to prevent accidental displacement of the folding sight when in either folded or raised position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding firearm sight, the combination with a main sight and its base, of a folding sight having flattened trunnions, and a U-shaped spring whose arms straddle the main sight and cotiperate with the flattened trunnions of the folding sight.

2. In a folding fire arm sight, the combination with a main sight having a transverse groove, of a folding sight having trunnions, and a U-shaped spring straddling the main sight and overlying said groove and having its arms bearing on said trunnions.

3. In a folding fire arm sight, the combination with a main sight and its base, the base being provided with a channel extending longitudinally thereof and opening out through its edge and also having a transverse groove, of a folding sight having trunnions disposed in the transverse groove and a stem adapted to be disposed in the channel, and spring means pressing upon the trunnions to hold the folding sight in either raised or lowered position.

4:. In a folding fire arm sight, the combination with a main sight and its base, the base being provided with a channel extending longitudinally thereof and opening out through its edge and also having a transverse groove, of a folding sight having trunnions disposed in the transverse groove and a stem adapted to be disposed in the channel, and a U-shaped spring straddling the main sight and having the ends of its arms bearing upon the trunnions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WEBSTER L. MARBLE.

Witnesses C. E. HAWKINS, D. J. CALDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

